Safety lighter

ABSTRACT

A safety-type cigarette lighter characterized by a selfcontained removable tank unit and a protective jacket or casing for said unit. The casing, which is of a well known type, embodies a cup-type receiver whose upper open end is normally closed by a hinged cap-type cover retained by resilient latch means when in its closing position. The hollow tank of the tank unit is equipped with the usual flint, finger-turned sparking wheel and wick-equipped neck, and is wholly filled with a wad of absorbent fluid storing material. This unit does not have to be fully withdrawn to charge with lighter fluid. The upper halfportion is withdrawn just enough to uncover and expose a filler hole. Therefore, the lighter does not have to be turned upside down for filling with lighter fluid. Then, too, the disclosed lighter features a novelly arranged wick which has a coil aligned with and exposed for quick saturation during the fuel filling step.

United States Patent 1 1 Russell 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 1 1 SAFETY LIGHTER[76] Inventor: Barney G. Russell, P.O. Box 873,

Camden, Ark. 71701 [22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 82,982

Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien [57]ABSTRACT A safety-type cigarette lighter characterized by aselfcontained removable tank unit and a protective jacket or casing forsaid unit. The casing, which is of a well known type, embodies acup-type receiver whose upper open end is normally closed by a hingedcaptype cover retained by resilient latch means when in its closingposition. The hollow tank of the tank unit is equipped with the usualflint, finger-turned sparking wheel and wick-equipped neck, and iswholly filled with a wad of absorbent fluid storing material. This unitdoes not have to be fully withdrawn to charge with lighter fluid. Theupper half-portion is withdrawn just enough to uncover and expose afiller hole. Therefore, the lighter does not have to be turned upsidedown for filling with lighter fluid. Then, too, the disclosed lighterfeatures a novelly arranged wick which has a coil aligned with andexposed for quick saturation during the fuel filling step.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUmzmu $723,048

Barney 6. Russell BY 2mm (ma W 5% SAFETY LIGHTER This invention relatesto portable pocket-sized lighters for cigars and cigarettes and has todo, more particularly, with that style of a lighter wherein aninsertable and removable self-contained lighter unit of a tank type istelescopingly and slidingly fitted in the cuplike receiver orreceptacle, of an outer case or casing, and wherein the open upper endof the receiver is equipped with a cap-like cover which when snapped toa closed position is retained by built-in spring means.

For background purposes it may be helpful for the reader to take note ofand consider a broadly significant reference; that is, the cigarettelighter shown in prior US. Pat. No. 1,360,202. Lighters such as thosewhich embody a tank type lighter unit and wherein the hollow portion ofthe tank is charged with absorbent cotton or the like for storing theprogressively usable lighter fluid require a user to forcibly dislodgeand completely withdraw the unit and then turn the bottom side up inorder to refill the tank. It is common knowledge that unless extremecare is resorted to some of the lighter fluid is more likely than not tooverflow and flush over-the exterior surfaces of the tank, over theexposed wick-end, flint, friction wheel and deposit itself on the usershands in a messy manner. Then, when the unit is replaced and the flintsparking wheel is zipped and turned in the usual manner, the ignitedwick and proximal surfaces are apt to blaze up and catch on fire, withthe result that the user may be caused to excitedly let go of anddangerously drop the blazing lighter on a rug or the like and start adifticult-to-control fire. One object of the invention is to soconstruct the tank unit that the storage chamber thereof can be readilyand conveniently filled with lighter fluid without having to pull theunit out of the casing's receiver. It follows that the tank filling andreplenishing step can be achieved expeditiously and safely withouthaving to turn the lighter upside down. In fact, the only time that theparts (casing and tank) have to be separated is when a new flint has tobe inserted.

Briefly the herein disclosed lighter is of a type which utilizes anignitible wick and a cooperatively oriented source of combustiblelighter fluid, more specifically, an outer jacket or casing embodyingtwo primary component parts, namely, a cup-like receiver which is openat its top and which provides a pocket-like receptacle. The open topportion of the receiver is provided with a second complemental part,that is a pivoted cap-type spring-retained cover. The cover can besnapped to an open position and retained out of the way during thecigarette or cigar lighting step. The hinged part of the cap is providedwith a detent which cooperates with a stock-type spring finger or latchwhich retains the cap in a closed position when it is swung in thedesired manner. A bodily insertable and removable hollow tank unit isprovided and this unit is of a size and shape which is such that itcorresponds to the receptacle part of the receiver. It is telescopinglyand slidingly fitted and concealed and enclosed in the receptacle andhas an upper end portion which is completely enclosed, that is, when thehinged cover is snapped to its normal closing and sheating position. Thetank unit is characterized by side walls, end walls, an optional bottomwall, and an essential top wall. The hollowor chamber portion is packedor stuffed as usual with absorbent and fluid-storing material such as awad of cotton or the like. The top wall is provided with accessiblemanually manipulatable spark generating means, an abradant wheel forexample, and an upstanding positioning and retaining neck for the upperend of the wick. An upper end portion of one wall, preferably a sidewall, of the unit has a properly proportioned and conveniently locatedfiller hole which is normally enclosed within the confines of thereceptacle or receiver and which can be exposed for accessible use bymanually sliding the upper end, more particularly the upper halfportion, of said unit up into a position which renders the filler holeaccessible. It follows that the unit can be safely and convenientlyreplenished with lighter fluid in an upright position and without havingto wholly dislodge and remove the unit or to invert the lighter, as isnow ordinarily necessary.

A feature of the invention in addition to the properly located fillerhole has to do with the wick. This is to say the leading upper end ofthe wick is plugged for use into and retained by an upstanding neck andthe median body portion and the lower trailing end portion is stuffedand located between an interior of one side wall of the unit and anadjacent surface portion of the fluid storing material. In fact thetrailing end portion is coiled and the convolutions of the coil aresituated in alignment with the filler hole. Accordingly when the nozzleof the lighter fluid can is lined up with the hole it quickly saturatesthe wick and facilitates safe and convenient loading of the wad ofmaterial with surplus fluid.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a safety lighter constructed inaccordance with the principles of the invention and which, inappearance, resembles commonly marketed encased-type lighters.

FIG. 2 is a view also in side elevation with the cap swung to the rightto an open position and with the insertable and removable tank unit withits self-contained lighting facilities lifted part-way, that isapproximately to the position illustrated, in order to expose the fillerhole for safe and convenient use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken approximately on the plane of thevertical section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of theindicating arrows.

And FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective and on a suitablyenlarged scale showing the coiled lower or trailing end portion of theaforementioned wick.

The aforementioned outer protective case or casing is denoted, generallystated, by the numeral 6. As usual it comprises a hollow cup-likereceiver 8 the hollow portion 10 of which provides a pocket-likereceptacle, the upper end or mouth portion 12 being open as best shownin FIG. 3. The cover or lid is of the usual hood or cap type and isdenoted at 14. One corner portion is hingedly mounted as at 16 adjacentthe upper end of the receiver so that the cap assumes the proper closedposition shown in FIG. 1. A hinged end portion of the cap is providedwith a detent 18 which is cooperable with a leaf spring or latch 20mounted in a channel-like member 22 fixed on one side of the insertableand removable selfvcontained tank unit 24. It should be pointed out thatthe casing and its component parts are old and well known in the art. Itfollows that the primary improvement has to do with the tank unit andmore particularly the substantially rectangular tank 26 which is of ashape and size that it telescopes and slides into the receptacle l andis covered when the cover is closed as shown in FIG. 1. The tankcomprises side walls 28 and 30, top wall 32 and an optional bottom wall34. This hollow tank serves to accommodate a wad of cotton or the likeas denoted at 36. This cotton is fitted into the chamber of the tank.The upper part of the side wall has an improved feature that is a fillerhole 38 of requisite size and located just below the level of the top32. The tank also has appropriate longitudinal or vertical side walls40. The top wall is provided with a flame guard 42 having cars 44carrying a flint sparking wheel 46 cooperable with the customarilymounted flint 48. As shown in FIG. 3 a neck 50 is provided for the upperend 52 of the wick. The wick is distinct and different in that themedian portion 54 is inserted between the interior of the wall 34 sothat it is in the chamber 54 and the lower end portion is coiled as at56 and is lined up with the filler hole 38. The over-all wick is denotedby the numeral 58.

It is significant to note that the filler hole 38 is, of course, ofrequisite diameter and is preferably centrally located as shown in FIG.2. It is close to the level of the top wall 32 and therefore can be saidto be situated in the upper half portion of the tank. It follows thatthe lower half portion 27 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particularremains within the confines of the receptacle portion during the fillingstep. This is to say, all that is necessary is for one to catch hold ofthe upper half portion and withdraw the tank to the position suggestedin FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position the hole 38 is exposed and thefilling step (not illustrated) can be carried out successfully.

It is submitted too that the manufacturer can make the principalcomponent parts 6 and 24 such in mating relationship that handicappedpersons will be able to accomplish the desired job with little or nodifficulty. In fact, it is reasonable to assume that the filling stepwith a little practice can be achieved with one hand and consequently asingle-handed person can achieve the filling and closing steps desired.The fact that the component parts do not have to be separated, only whensupplying a new flint, well serves the purposes for which the lighterhas been devised.

Ordinarily when a wick burns too low it is necessary to remove all ofthe filler cotton to remedy the problem. With the wick herein shown andwith the coiled end sandwiched between the filler or wad 36 and asbrought out in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be evident that quick saturationof the wick takes place and that as a matter of fact the wick can bereplaced in the hands of a person possessed of requisite patience andskill.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

hat IS claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lighter of a type which uses an ignitible wick and a cooperativelyoriented source of combustible lighter fluid comprising: a protectivecasing embodying cuplike receiver which is open at its top and whichprovides a receptacle, the open top portion of said receiver beingprovided with a cooperatively pivoted cap-type spring-retained cover,and a bodily insertable and removable hollow tank unit of a size andshape corresponding to said receptacle and telescopingly and slidinglyfitted and enclosed in said receptacle and having an upper end portionwhich is completely enclosed when said cover is retentively closed, saidunit embodying side walls, end walls and a top wall, said hollow tankunit being operatively packed with absorbent fluid storing material,said top wall being provided with accessible manually manipulatablespark generating means and an upstanding positioning and retaining neckfor a wick; and an upper portion of one wall of said unit having afiller hole which is normally enclosed within the confines of saidreceiver but can be exposed for accessible use by sliding the upperhalf-portion of said unit up to a position which renders the filler holeaccessible, whereby said unit can be safely and conveniently replenishedwith lighter fluid in an upright position without having to whollyremove said unit or to invert the lighter, as is ordinarily necessary,an elongated wick having an upper leading end portion plugged for use inand retained by said neck, and a main body and lower trailing endportion stuffed and retained between an interior of said one wall ofsaid unit and an adjacent surface portion of said fluid storingmaterial, and wherein the trailing end portion of said wick is formedinto a coil which is commensurate in size with the size of said fillerhole, the convolutions of said coil being nested together and beingaccessibly aligned with said hole.

1. A lighter of a tyPe which uses an ignitible wick and a cooperativelyoriented source of combustible lighter fluid comprising: a protectivecasing embodying cup-like receiver which is open at its top and whichprovides a receptacle, the open top portion of said receiver beingprovided with a cooperatively pivoted cap-type spring-retained cover,and a bodily insertable and removable hollow tank unit of a size andshape corresponding to said receptacle and telescopingly and slidinglyfitted and enclosed in said receptacle and having an upper end portionwhich is completely enclosed when said cover is retentively closed, saidunit embodying side walls, end walls and a top wall, said hollow tankunit being operatively packed with absorbent fluid storing material,said top wall being provided with accessible manually manipulatablespark generating means and an upstanding positioning and retaining neckfor a wick; and an upper portion of one wall of said unit having afiller hole which is normally enclosed within the confines of saidreceiver but can be exposed for accessible use by sliding the upperhalf-portion of said unit up to a position which renders the filler holeaccessible, whereby said unit can be safely and conveniently replenishedwith lighter fluid in an upright position without having to whollyremove said unit or to invert the lighter, as is ordinarily necessary,an elongated wick having an upper leading end portion plugged for use inand retained by said neck, and a main body and lower trailing endportion stuffed and retained between an interior of said one wall ofsaid unit and an adjacent surface portion of said fluid storingmaterial, and wherein the trailing end portion of said wick is formedinto a coil which is commensurate in size with the size of said fillerhole, the convolutions of said coil being nested together and beingaccessibly aligned with said hole.